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King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 611, 15 October 1913, Page 6

Settlers were present from Mokau, Awakino, Tongaporutu and Mahoenui, and all were enthusiastic in then: ideas of pushing the place ahead. Mr C. Leech (Awakino) was voted to the chair. Apologies were made for the absence of Mr G. K. Wilson, M.P. (who was detained in Wellington or urgent Parliamentary business, and for Messrs Calvert, H, A. Tiffin and S, A. Robinson. THE ROADING QUESTION. Mr Walter Jones briefly outlined the objects of the meeting. He said that most people would agree that for many years the distircts of North Taranaki and South Auckland had, to a very large extent, been neglected by the powers that be, especially with regard to the matter of roads. It was now 25 years since the Mokau was settled, and still there was no metalled road. The road over Mc. Messenger had been commenced 13 years ago, and when the late Mr Seddon was in the district at that time he promised the people that within three years from that date they would aee a metalled road from Waitara to Auckland. Of the 90 miles of road, he did not think that 15 mile 9 had been metalled since then, and he felt it was time that the people bestirred themselves to get this thing that they had, been asking for for 25 years accomplished. After all this time they were no better off in the matter of egress and ingress. It was safe to say that the coat of metalling the road from Mokau to Te Kuiti would be less than was spent on many of the by-roads of other parts of the country. He moved the following resolution:— "That this meeting is of the opinion that, in the interest of settlement generally, the Government carry out the promise made by it 13 years ago, and complete and metal the main road between Waitara and Te Kuiti." Mr J. Terrill seconded the motion, which was received with acclamation. The chairman said there could be no two opinions about the wisdom of the resolution and the necessity of backing it up with all the force that could be brought to bear. Mr L. Jacob recalled the time of Mr Seddon's visit and promise 13 years before. When the late Premier arrived he was given an elaborate banquet, and he made the most of the fact of having driven the first vehicle through to the Mangaotaki. The promise was that the metal would follow in three years, but they had waited still another ten, and were now no better off. He added that the road was passing through metal all the way, and that perhaps if the stone was 30 miles away from the road they would have a better chance of getting the metal. They had proved, in making the concrete niles for the new wharf, that the metal was there, and the new deviation at Mahoenui was going through metal all the way. Probably more was being thrown into the river than wa3 enough to cover the road. He concluded that it would be most advantageous to the people and to the Government to push the matter on. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. SWAGING THE MOKAU. Mr D. Black introduced the subject of opening up the upper reaches of the Mokau river. Besides being a good highway into the interior, he said, the river would tap a big area of good country. At present the launches cojld get right up only in flood time, which was really only a humbug to people. He did not think it would be a very big undertaking if done in the proper way. There were about 18 to 20 miles to be snagged, and he thought it could be done for the cost of about two or three miles o: roadway. A great factor in favour of the river was the fact of there being practically no coat for maintenance, and water carriage was always cheaper. The speaker remarked that eighteen or twenty years ago, in T,hs late Mr Baiiance's Premiership, about £2OOO had been granted for this work. But they never go! it; it had been taken away and used on the Wanganui river. Ha urged that the p?ople should see that the money was recovered, and to this end he moved the following rpsolution : "That the attention of the Government be drawn to the advantages that would accrua from Lbs opening up of the upper reaches of the Mokau river for launch traffic." Mr James Old seconded the motion. The chairman supported the motion, saying that the advantages that would' accrue to the whole coast as far as New Plymouth could not be over-estimated. The opening up of the river would lessen the cost to the farmers of getting their goods in and their produce out. Also, he was certain that in a few years that district would be the route for traffic as far in as the Mangaotaki. The trade now was going to Te Kuiti, and if the river was opened up the settlers would be in pocket in many